New Beginnings

Part 1

Draco Malfoy opened his eyes and found himself at home, in the family's opulent living room.

Did all of that really just happen? he thought.

It had played out like a dream: Crabbe, engulfed by flames in the Room of Requirement. Finding his aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange, a corpse on the Great Hall floor. Harry Potter, acting dead and then rising to his feet. The sight of the Dark Lord as He dissolved into ashes.

Draco wanted to feel relieved. He wouldn't be forced into complying with His unspeakable orders anymore. But instead, he was nauseous (and for once, it had nothing to do with Apparating- he'd always preferred Floo powder or flying).

What would the Death Eaters do if they knew his family had left the battle? Some were insane enough to come after them. And the Ministry...

"Pack your things," Lucius ordered.

"Where are we going?"

Draco's mother placed a hand on his shoulder. "It doesn't matter. We can't stay here, you realize? The Ministry of Magic will be hunting down every last Death Eater until they've put us all in Azkaban. I won't let you endure that."

"No, we will not," Lucius agreed.

Somehow, Draco found the guts to say, "Isn't it rather... well, cowardly?"

Lucius and Narcissa gave him a silent, cold response, and they left for their bedroom, presumably to gather items together.

This was exactly what Draco had predicted. Along the course of his life, he'd bent over backwards for them, did whatever they asked, just so they'd be happy. And he never saw fit to speak his mind.

Until today.

Then, another wizard suddenly Apparated in front of him. A stout wizard, ashes still on his robes. He must've come straight from the battle, too.

"Slughorn," Draco sneered, raising his wand. "What gives you the right to enter our home? Father doesn't like those who disgrace the house of Slytherin."

Slughorn didn't seem fazed by the threat. "And I don't like it when you question my authority, boy. Though our beliefs may differ, you father was still a great student of mine, and he told me I was welcome here. Unless, of course, he's-"

"Oh, no. I'm alive, Slughorn, thank you very much." Lucius stepped into the living room with Narcissa behind him, grinning briefly at his former Potions master.

"Tell us why you're here," Draco commanded.

"I'm here on behalf of the new Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt."

"That blood traitor?!?!?" Narcissa spat. "Who elected him Minister?"

"I did. As did every surviving member of the Order of the Phoenix, and trustworthy employees in the Ministry. You won't need to go on the run, Malfoy. That blood traitor is offering you a pardon."

This smacked the anger right out of Draco's father. He relaxed, drawing a breath.

Draco admired the way Slughorn took control. Like a true Slytherin. In that moment, Draco forgot why he'd despised Slughorn all throughout his sixth year. He wasn't even jealous of Harry Potter anymore.

Yes, he'd been jealous. Not too long ago, he would've denied it. But how stupid was that? Stupid, to have envied a boy who was famous for surviving a Killing Curse, while his mother and father lost their lives.

Draco would never act so childishly now. Never again. I'm finally becoming my own person, he realized.

He found the voice to ask, "We're not being punished?"

"No, dear boy," his old professor answered. "When you three abandoned the battle, it was clear that your hearts no longer belonged to You-Know-Who. Or, at the very least, you've rejected his most extreme demands. In fact, Shacklebolt would like to see you at the Ministry tomorrow, Lucius. He's creating a new post that might be perfect for a man of your skills."

"Th... thank you, Slughorn," Lucius stammered.

"I must be clear: this is a warning. Don't give Shacklebolt any reason to imprison you again. If you do, it's off to Azkaban for the rest of your life. Understood?"

One look at his father, and Draco felt a glimpse into how awful the prison cells were. He vowed, whatever happened, that he'd keep himself in line, away from Azkaban and Dementors.

He wouldn't need to be reminded twice.